System for recording and reproducing karaoke data

ABSTRACT

A method of reproducing a recording medium on which image data is recorded using an MPEG (Moving Picture Coding Expert Group) or the like, the image data including first image data where all image information for one frame of question is compressed and second image data where information on a change in image information for frames before and after the frame of question is compressed, is characterized in that, when a predetermined portion in the image data recorded on the recording medium is reproduced, reproduction is started from a portion on the recording medium where the first image data is recorded.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/417,120,filed Apr. 5, 1995, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of reproducing a recordingmedium and an apparatus for reproducing the same. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a method of reproducing a recording mediumby compressing moving picture information, and an apparatus therefor.

2. Background of the Invention

There has been known one of the CD-ROM (CD-Read Only Memory) standards,which is called a video-CD. The video-CD in which audio information aswell as moving picture information has been recorded has been put topractical use as a recording medium for a so-called "Karaokeu"

In the video-CD, a moving picture signal as well as an audio signal hasbeen compressed and encoded in conformity with the MPEG (Moving PictureCoding Expert Group) standards before being recorded.

In other words, the audio signal and moving picture signal are recordedin the following manner. The audio signal is converted into a digitalsignal, and then compressed by the compression coding system utilizingan audition psychology characteristic before being recorded. The movingpicture signal is converted into a digital signal, and one screen isblocked in a plurality of blocks. Each of the blocks is subjected todiscrete cosine transformation (DCT) so that the coding quantity isdecreased in accordance with the degree of a change of an image. Codesof short lengths are allocated to the codes which have been subjected tothe DCT in accordance with a VLC (Variable Length Code), as they arehigher in the frequency of occurrence, so that the coding quantity arereduced as a whole.

In the case of moving picture data, a difference between an actualscreen and a screen a change of which is predicted from a past screenand future screen is extracted. Then, the difference thus extracted andthe predicted quantity of change are recorded, and the data quantity isalso compressed. However, since a demodulated picture cannot be obtainedfrom only data for the difference and the predicted quantity of change,picture data for one screen (1 frame) which is a reference to the datafor the difference and the predicted quantity of change is compressedand encoded as it is, without referring to other pictures. In thismanner, the reference picture thus compressed and encoded withoutreferring to other pictures is called an "I-picture" (Intra Picture).Other pictures which contain change information for the I-picture iscalled a "P-picture" (Predicted Picture) or a "B-picture"(Bi-directional Prediction Picture).

The audio signal and moving picture signal are recorded, as shown inFIG. 1, on a disc by a sector unit established by the CD-ROM standards.In other words, in FIG. 1, Symbol V designates a sector (hereinafterreferred to a "video sector") of moving picture data which has beencompressed and encoded, and A designates a sector (hereinafter referredto an "audio sector") of audio data which has been compressed andencoded. Since the audio data is less than the moving picture data inthe quantity of data, it is recorded in the ratio of one audio sector toa plurality of video sectors, as shown in FIG. 1.

As will be described in more detail later, information on a distinctionbetween the audio sector and the video sector, information on anabsolute time on a disc, and information on a time when a moving pictureor sound is outputted at the time of reproducing (information on acorrespondence in a reproducing timing between the moving picture andsound) are recorded on the respective sectors. The reproducing apparatusreproduces each music and a moving picture associated with that music onthe basis of those information.

As is apparent from the above description of the compression encodingsystem for moving picture data, an accurate demodulated picture cannotbe obtained without the I-picture. For this reason, when reproduction isstarted from the halfway position of a certain track (one trackcorresponds to one music; hereinafter, a sequence of events such as onemusic will be called one (1) sequence), it is difficult to obtain aaccurate reproduced image unless the position of the I-picture is known.

In the format of the video-CD, in order to maintain a given imagequality, the I-pictures are arranged in such a manner that one I-pictureis necessarily recorded within 2 seconds. However, in the format of theoriginal video-CD (hereinafter referred to as an "old video-CD format"),no information on the position of the I-picture is recorded on a disc.For this reason, the old video-CD format did not facilitate the start ofreproduction from the halfway position of a certain track.

Thereafter, in the format of a revised video-CD format (hereinafter,referred to as a "new video-CD format"), a halfway position on a trackwhere an image can be reproduced (hereinafter referred to as an "entrypoint"), after being converted into time information, is recorded on anarea (a first track 1 as will be described later) where information onthe number of music on the disc and recording data on the disc isrecorded. The entry point is directed to information on the position ofthe I-picture and enables a picture to be reproduced even at the time ofpartially reproducing or forward feed reproducing by reproducing whilereferring to that point.

In the video-CD, data which has been subjected to a compressionprocessing is recorded as the moving picture signal. That data containsI-picture data which enables one screen to be reproduced by decoding thecompression-processed data independently because the data has beensubjected to compressing and encoding within one screen as describedabove, P-picture data which cannot be decoded without use of theI-picture, and B-picture data which cannot be decoded without use of theI-picture data and the P-picture data.

In the normal reproduction, those I-, P- and B-pictures are decoded,respectively, to output the reproduction of the moving picture. In thehigh-speed reproduction such as FF (fast forward) or REW (rewind), theI-picture data may be extracted discretely from the disc and thendisplayed.

In the high-speed reproduction, as the practical operation, theI-picture data is searched through the reproducing operation, and thendecoded so that the decoded data is continuously outputted to bedisplayed as it looks like a still picture. Thereafter, a track jump isexecuted so that an I-picture is searched by executing the reproducingoperation again from a jump completion point. Then, after the decodingprocessing is completed, the present screen is switched to a previousscreen so that a picture of the I-picture decoded at this time isoutputted to be displayed, and a track jump is executed. The aboveoperation is repeated.

However, in the case where no I-picture could be found at the time ofthe reproducing operation, the picture of the previous I-picture iscaused to be displayed for a long period of time.

For example, because the I-picture cannot be found in the duration wherean optical head is scanning between two music on the disc, a picturewhich has previously been decoded and outputted to be displayed iscontinuously being displayed. Therefore, the operation is not changed tothe high-speed reproducing operation.

Also, if the I-picture is decoded and display is switched immediatelywhen the I-picture has been found, the duration from the start ofdisplaying a certain picture to the start of displaying a next picture,that is, the length of a period of time during which each picture isdisplayed is dispersed. The shortened or lengthened period of time fordisplaying each picture makes its visibility very poor as a high-speedreproduced picture.

The above difficulties result in such problems that the visibility of asearch screen as well as the usability are lowered.

Moreover, a Karaoke system has been realized which uses a video-CDconforming to the old video-CD format as a recording medium. However, inJapan, in recent years, music programs are reduced from TV programswhereby the entire music is difficult to memorize. Also, the Karaokehouses in which Karaoke systems are installed are increased. The accountof loyalty to copyrights is shifted from a music unit system to a timecharge system. Thus, the environments surrounding a Karaoke market arechanged as a result of which the market has made the following demandsfor the Karaoke systems.

That is,

1) A user wishes to sing only the characteristic portions of music whichis a so-called "impressive" ("Sabi" in Japanese).

2) The user wishes to sing only the first or second part of a poem or tofinish with singing of the second part.

3) The user wishes to forwardly feed parts of music irrelevant tosinging such as an interlude or a weak phrase for omission.

However, in the reproducing apparatus having the video-CD as a recordingmedium such as the conventional Karaoke system, there is no means forknowing the position of a specified partial sequence. For this reason,the user is required to search the start and end points of the partialsequence to manipulate the reproducing apparatus so as to realize thespecified partial reproduction or omission described in the aboveitems 1) to 3). This is troublesome. In particular, in the case oflimiting the position of the partial sequence depending on music, forexample, in the case of reproducing only the portion of "Sabi"(impressive), the operator must manipulate the reproducing apparatus atnot only the start position of the partial sequence but also the endposition of the partial sequence. Thus, the manipulation is troublesome.

As described above, in the old video-CD format, information on theposition of the I-picture is not recorded on a disc. For this reason,when starting reproduction from the middle of certain music as in theabove items 1) to 3), a moving picture associated with such a situationis difficult to reproduce.

In the new video-CD format, since the position of the I-picture is knownas an entry point, the moving picture can be reproduced even from themiddle of music. However, in the case of starting reproduction from aspecified portion of music as in the above items 1) to 3), it can bespecified from which entry point reproduction should be preferablystarted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a methodof reproducing a recording medium which resolves the above-mentionedproblems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatusfor reproducing a recording medium which resolves the above-mentionedproblems.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method ofreproducing the recording medium on which picture data including firstpicture data where all of picture information for one frame iscompressed and second picture data where information on a change ofpicture information for frames positioned before and after the frame ofquestion is compressed, and audio data which is compressed are recorded.The method of reproducing the recording medium is characterized in thatreproduction is executed from a portion of the recording medium wherethe first picture data is recorded when reproducing a given portion ofpicture data recorded on the recording medium.

Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a method ofreproducing the recording medium on which picture data associated withaudio data and including at least one audio data, first picture datawhere all of picture information for one frame is compressed, and secondpicture data where information on a change of picture information forframes positioned before and after the frame of question is compressedare recorded. The method of reproducing the recording medium ischaracterized in that, in reproducing the audio data and picture datawhich are recorded on the recording medium by accessing to apredetermined position of the recording medium, the reproduction ofaudio data is started from an accessed position, and the picture data isreproduced from a portion of the picture data where the first picturedata is recorded in the vicinity of the accessed position.

Further, according to the present invention, there is also provided amethod of reproducing a recording medium on which at least one audiodata, picture data associated with the audio data and including firstpicture data where all of picture information for one frame iscompressed, and second picture data where information on a change ofpicture information for frames positioned before and after the frame ofquestion is compressed, and position data representing a position wherethe first picture data is recorded are recorded. The method ofreproducing the recording medium is characterized in that, inreproducing the audio data and picture data which are recorded on therecording medium by accessing to a predetermined position of therecording medium, the reproduction of audio data is started from anaccessed position, and the picture data is reproduced from a portion ofthe picture data where the first picture data is recorded on the basisof the position data.

Still Further, according to the present invention, there is provided anapparatus for reproducing a recording medium on which image dataincluding first picture data where all of picture information for oneframe is compressed, and second picture data where information on achange of picture information for frames positioned before and after theframe of question is compressed is recorded. The apparatus forreproducing the recording medium includes a reader, a decoder and acontroller. The reader reads data recorded on the recording medium. Thedecoder subjects data outputted from the reader to a decodingprocessing. The controller controls the reader and the decoder. Inreproducing a predetermined portion of picture data recorded on therecording medium, the controller controls the movement of the reader tomake the reader gain access to a position on the recording medium wherethe first picture date is recorded, thereby reproducing picture datafrom the position of the recording medium where the first picture dateis recorded.

Yet still further, according to the present invention, there is providedan apparatus for reproducing a recording medium on which at least oneaudio data, picture data that is associated with the audio data andincludes first picture data where all of picture information for oneframe is compressed, and second picture data where information on achange of picture information for frames positioned before and after theframe of question is compressed, and position data representing aposition where the first picture data is recorded are recorded. Thereproducing apparatus includes a reader, a decoder and a controller. Thereader reads data recorded on the recording medium, and the decodersubjects data outputted from the reader to a decoding processing. Thecontroller controls the reader and the decoder. In reproducing audiodata as well as picture data which are recorded on the recording mediumby making the reader gain access to a predetermined position of therecording medium, the controller controls the decoder so that thereproduction of audio data is started from the accessed position of thereader. Also, the controller controls the reader as well as the decoderso that the picture data read by the reader is reproduced from a portionof the recording medium where the first picture date is recorded on thebasis of the position data.

According to the present invention, in starting the reproduction of datacompressed and recorded on the recording medium, the picture data forone frame among picture data is reproduced from the first picture datacompressed so that accurate moving picture can be reproduced at alltimes.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbe more apparent from the following description taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the recording state of audiodata and video data in a video-CD;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a CD-ROM format;

FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e) are explanatory diagrams showing video data of thevideo-CD;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a screen size of the video-CD;

FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are explanatory diagrams showing the structure of atrack on the video-CD;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of a reproducingapparatus used in a method of reproducing a recording medium inaccordance with first and second embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of high-speedreproduction in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of high-speedreproduction in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of display at thetime of high-speed reproduction in accordance with the first embodimentof the present invention;

FIGS. 10(a) and 10(b) are explanatory diagrams showing the state of useof a video RAM in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a display region for reducedpicture display in accordance with the second embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 12(a) to 12(g) are explanatory diagrams showing the display stateat the time of an FF search operation in accordance with the secondembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the FF search inaccordance with the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 14(a) to 14(g) are explanatory diagrams showing the display stateat the time of an REW search operation in accordance with the secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the REW search inaccordance with the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing the display region of reducedpicture display in accordance with another example of the secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing the display region of reducedpicture display in accordance with still another example of the secondembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the display region of reducedpicture display in accordance with yet still another example of thesecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the format of the video-CD forKaraoke in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing data recorded on a track 1 ofthe video-CD;

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing the sector structure of thevideo-CD;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an item packetused for the designation of an access point among a sequence item table;

FIG. 23 is a table showing an example of the structure of event data;

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationshipbetween I-picture and access points for partial reproduction; and

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing the structure of a reproducingapparatus used in a method of reproducing a recording medium inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Now, a description will be given of a method of reproducing a recordingmedium in detail in accordance with the present invention. In therespective embodiments to be described below, an example of using avideo-CD as a recording medium will be described. The structure of datafor the video-CD will be explained before the description of therespective embodiments.

The video-CD standards are provided so that the standardized MPEG systemis applied as the high-efficiency coding technique and a moving pictureas well as an audio can be reproduced from a CD-ROM disc for 60 minutesor more. As a result, such video-CD standards are useful to a homesoftware such as music, movie, Karaoke and so on, and also applicable toan education software, an electronic publication software, a gamesoftware and so on in combination with a still picture.

In the video-CD, moving picture data is compressed by the MPEG system,and superimposed on compressed audio data for recording. Moreover,management data necessary for reproduction is recorded in a given area.FIG. 2 shows the format of data in the video-CD.

In the format of recording an image and audio, as is apparent from FIG.2, 1.152 Mbit/second are allocated to the video data whereas 64 to 384Kbit/second are allocated to the audio data. The dimensions of pixelsfor video data (moving picture) are 352×240 pixels in the case of anNTSC signal (29.97 Hz) as well as a film (23.976 Hz), and 352×288 pixelsin the case of the PAL signal (25 Hz), as shown in FIG. 4.

In the case of NTSC, the dimensions of pixels for a still picture are352×240 pixels in a standard level and 704×480 pixels in a high finelevel. In the case of PAL, the dimensions of pixels for a still pixelsare 352×288 pixels in the standard level and 704×576 pixels in the highfine level.

The compressing and encoding process of moving picture data due to theMPEG system is made in the following manner. If a video signal beforebeing compressed is of the NTSC system, 1 second is constituted by videosignals of 30 frames in the case of the NTSC system.

In the MPEG system, the respective video signals for one frame aredivided into 330 blocks which are horizontally 22 blocks×vertically 15blocks. Data of each block is subjected to the DCT, and also requantizedfor reducing the number of bits. In other words, a high frequencycomponent in the frequency components of signals is set to 0. Then, theblocks are rearranged in such a manner that they zigzags starting from ablock at an upper left position on the screen of one frame.Subsequently, the blocks are subjected to a run-length coding processfor further compressing the number of bits.

Thus, in the respective frames of the video signals which are subjectedto the compression processing, the frames adjacent to each other in viewof time are very similar in video information to each other. Utilizingthis fact, information is further compressed so that there are providedthree types of video data (video data for one frame) different incompressibility, which, as described above, are called the I-picture,the P-picture and the B-picture, respectively.

In 30 frames for one second, the I-pictures, the P-pictures and theB-pictures are arranged usually as shown in FIG. 3(a). For example, inthis case, I-pictures I₁ and I₁ disposed at an interval of 15 frames, 8P-pictures P₁ to P₈ and 20 B-pictures B₁ to B₂₀ are arranged,respectively, as shown in FIG. 3(a). An interval from a certainI-picture to a frame immediately before the next I-picture is called aGPO (Group of Picture).

The I-picture is a normal image data encoded by the conversion of theDCT.

The P-picture, as shown in FIG. 3(b), is produced from the nearestI-picture or P-picture by encoding it with movement compensation. Forexample, the P-picture P₁ is produced by using the I-picture I₁ and theP-picture P₂ is produced by using the P-picture P₁.

For that reason, the P-picture provides image data which is compressedmore than that of the I-picture. Because the P-picture is produced fromthe I-picture or P-picture being not yet sequenced, an error generatedis caused to be propagated.

The B-picture is produced, as shown in FIG. 3(c), using both of the pastand future I-picture or P-picture.

For example, B-pictures B₁ and B₂ are produced using the I-picture I₁and the P-picture P₁, and B-pictures B₃ and B₄ are produced using theP-picture P₁ and the P-picture P₂.

The B-picture results in the most compressed data. Also, because of nodata producing reference, no error is propagated.

In the algorithm of the MPEG, the selection of a position orsynchronization of the I-picture is allowed, and this selection isdetermined in accordance with the circumstances such as the randomaccess degree or scene cut. For example, if importance is given torandom access, two I-pictures are required for at least one second asshown in FIG. 3(a).

Moreover, the frequency of the P-picture and B-picture is selectable andset in accordance with the memory capacity of an encoder, or the like.

An encoder in the MPEG system is designed to rearrange a video datastream so as to enhance the efficiency of the decoder and to output therearranged video data stream.

For example, in the case of FIG. 3(a), the frame sequence to bedisplayed, that is, the sequence of outputs from a decoder is identicalto frame numbers shown at the lower portion of FIG. 3(a). A P-picture isrequired as a reference at a point of time before the B-picture in orderthat the decoder resynthesizes the B-picture. Hence, the encoderrearranges the frame sequence of FIG. 3(d) as shown in FIG. 3(e) andpropagates it as a video data stream.

The audio data format of the MPEG is adaptable to a coding speed with awide range from 32 Kbit/second to 448 Kbit/second. Moving picture tracksof a track 2 and following tracks are 224 Kbit/second in coding speedfrom the software manufacture facilitating and sound quality enhancingstandpoints.

The sampling frequency is 44.1 KHz likewise as a compact disc(hereinafter referred to as "CD-DA") on which a normal music informationhas been recorded.

On the video-CD is recorded video data and audio data as well asmanagement data for allowing the various control of those reproductionoperation to be executed.

That is, like the CD-DA, a TOC (table of contents) and sub-codes arerecorded on the video-CD. Information such as the number of tracks, thestart point of each track or an absolute time is recorded in the TOC.

Subsequently, as a track structure, the data structure of a track onwhich video data and audio data, for example, which constitute unit dataof one tune in music are recorded is shown in FIG. 5(a).

A pause margin of 150 sectors occupies the head of one track on theassumption that retrieval of a track is made by its track number as inthe CD-DA.

15 sectors subsequent to the pause margin forms a front margin, and thelast 15 sectors is an empty data region which forms a rear margin.

A MPEG data region is occupied between the front margin and the rearmargin. In the MPEG data region, sectors V of video data and sectors Aof audio data are multiplexed time-divisionally by interleaving andrecorded therein in such a manner that the sectors V and A are arrangedat the rate of 6:1 on average as shown in FIG. 5(b), similarly to FIG.1.

The video-CD on which the video data as well as the audio data is thusrecorded can be reproduced. Furthermore, a description will be given ofa reproducing apparatus applied to a method of reproducing a recordingmedium in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,with reference to FIG. 6. The reproducing method according to the firstembodiment of the present invention is capable of reproducing a CD-DA onwhich only audio data has been recorded on a compact disc (hereinafterreferred to as "CD-G") on which a still picture has been recorded withsub-code data in the CD-DA system.

In FIG. 6, a reference numeral 30 denotes a disc. The types of the disc30 which can be reproduced by the apparatus shown in FIG. 6 are avideo-CD, a CD-DA and a CD-G.

The disc 30 loaded into the apparatus is chucked by a chuckingmechanism, not shown, so as to be rotationally driven by a spindle motor33. Then, a light beam is irradiated from an optical head 34 toward thedisc 30 while the disc 30 is rotated by the spindle motor 33, so thatinformation is read out from the disc 30 by its reflected light beam.

The optical head 34 has an optical system including a laser diode as alight source, a polarization beam spitter, an objective lens 34a and soon, as well as a photodetector for detecting the reflected light beamfrom the disc 30. The objective lens 34a is held so that it can bedisplaced by means of an actuator 34b in the radial direction of thedisc 30 as well as in a direction along which the objective lens 34a isin contact with and away from the disc 30. A reference numeral 30denotes a feed mechanism for driving the optical head 34 along theradial direction of the disc 30.

In the reproducing operation, a detection signal which is detected fromthe disc 30 by the optical head 34, is supplied to an RF amplifier 36.The RF amplifier 36 operates information supplied thereto to therebyproduce a reproduced RF signal, a tracking error signal, a focus errorsignal and so on. The reproduced RF signal thus produced is supplied toa decoder 38 and then subjected to an EFM demodulation and an errorcorrection. P- and Q-channel sub-code data are taken out from thedecoder 38 and supplied to a system controller 53.

The tracking error signal and the focus error signal are supplied to aservo circuit 37. Upon receipt of the supplied tracking error signal andfocus error signal as well as a track jump command, a seek command andthe detection information on the rotational speed of the spindle motor33 from the system controller 53 and so on, the servo circuit 37generates a variety of servo drive signals to control the actuator 34band the feed mechanism 35 for the focus and tracking control, and alsoto control the spindle motor 33 to a constant linear speed (CLV).

A reference numeral 39 denotes a CD-ROM decoder. In the case where adisc which is being reproduced falls under the category of a so-calledCD-ROM such as a video-CD, the CD-ROM decoder 39 executes a decodingprocessing in accordance with a CD-ROM format.

Management information necessary for the reproduction operation in thesignals decoded by the CD-ROM decoder 39, that is, a variety of discinformation which have been recorded on the video-CD by using the track1 are taken in a RAM 53a of the system controller 53.

The audio data decoded by the CD-ROM decoder 39 is supplied to an MPEGaudio decoder 40. The MPEG audio decoder 40 decodes the audio data at agiven timing using an audio RAM 41 to thereby output a decoded audiosignal.

Further, the video data decoded by the CD-ROM decoder 39 is supplied toan MPEG video decoder 42. The MPEG video decoder 42 decodes the videodata at a given timing using a video RAM 41 to thereby output a decodedvideo signal (RGB output).

A reference numeral 44 denotes a switch for executing switchingoperation in accordance with the type of the disc to be reproduced.

In the case where the disc to be reproduced is of the CD-DA, the decoder38 executes a decoding processing such as the EFM demodulation and CIRC,thereby obtaining a digital audio signal as a reproduced signal.

During the CD-DA reproducing operation, the system controller 53 makesthe switch 44 connected to a terminal t₁. Therefore, the digital audiosignal from the decoder 38 is converted into an analog audio signalthrough a D/A converter 45, and a converted digital audio signal isoutputted from an audio output terminal 46 to an amplifier circuitdisposed at a post-stage or an external equipment such as an amplifier.

In the case where the disc which is being reproduced is of the video-CD,audio data is obtained from the MPEG audio decoder 40. During thevideo-CD reproducing operation, the system control 53 makes the switch44 connected to a terminal t₂. Accordingly, the digital audio signalfrom the MPEG audio decoder 40 is converted into an analog audio signalthrough a D/A converter 45, and a converted digital audio signal isoutputted from an audio output terminal 46 to an amplifier circuitdisposed at a post-stage or an external equipment such as an amplifier.

In reproducing the video-CD, RGB video data is obtained as an output ofthe MPEG video decoder 42. That RGB video data is converted into an RGBanalog signal through a D/A converter 47. The RGB analog signal is thensupplied to an RGB/NTSC encoder 48 where the RGB signal is convertedinto a composite video signal of the NTSC system, and thereaftersupplied to a terminal t₂ of a switch 49.

During the video-CD reproducing operation, the system controller 53makes the switch 49 connected to the terminal t₂. As a result, thecomposite video signal of the NTSC system is supplied from a videooutput terminal 51 to a monitor device or the like through an OSCprocessor 50, thus executing a video output. A predeterminedsuperimposing display can be carried out on the video thus outputted inaccordance with the operation of the OSD processor 50 which is based ona command from the system controller 53.

In the case where a disc to be reproduced is of the CD-DA which is alsoof the CD-G, still picture data is read out from R- to W-channels of thesub-code. That still picture data is supplied to a CD-G decoder 52 anddecoded before being outputted as a composite video signal (stillpicture) of the NTSC system. During the CD-DA reproducing operation, theswitch 49 is connected to a terminal t₁. As a result, the video signalreproduced from the CD-G is supplied from the video output terminal 51to the monitor equipment or the like through the OSD processor 50, thusexecuting a video output. Similarly in this case, a predeterminedsuperimposing display can be carried out on the outputted video throughthe OSD processor 50.

A reference numeral 54 denotes an operating input section by the user'soperation, which corresponds to a variety of operating keys, disposed onthe casing of the reproducing apparatus, such as a playback key, a stopkey, an FF key, an REW key, and a variety of mode setting keys, as wellas an infrared ray receiver (and a remote commander).

A reference numeral 55 denotes a display unit consisting of aliquid-crystal panel and so on. In executing the reproducing operationof the disc 30, management information recorded on the disc 30, that is,the TOC and sub-code data are read out from the disc 30 and thensupplied to the system controller 53. The system controller 53 makes atrack number, a playback time or the like displayed on the display unit55 in response to those management information.

In the reproducing apparatus of the first embodiment, at the time of ahigh-speed reproduction such as FF search or REW search, the systemcontroller 53 makes the operation schematically shown in FIG. 8 executedas the operation of the optical head 34. At the time of the high-speedreproduction, an I-picture is extracted discretely from the disc 30 andthen displayed. For that reason, the normal reproduction operation isexecuted as shown in FIG. 8 to search out the I-picture from the disc30. Then, the I-picture, which has been searched out, is decoded by theMPEG video decoder 42, and simultaneously the optical head 34 is allowedto execute the track jump by several tracks. Upon completion of thetrack jump, the normal reproduction operation is again executed tosearch out another I-picture. The above operation is repeated to therebyexecute the high-speed reproduction of FF or REW. For example, as shownin FIG. 9, images resulting from the I-picture is switched from thepresent one to a new one.

The track jump is directed toward the outer peripheral direction of thedisc at the time of FF, but toward the inner peripheral direction of thedisc at the time of REW.

In the FF/REW operation of the first embodiment, the system controller53 and the MPEG video decoder 42 execute a processing shown in FIG. 7,whereby, when an image resulting from the I-picture is switched from thepresent one to a new one as shown in FIG. 9, the timing of renewing animage can be made at substantially constant intervals.

In the operating input section 54, when the FF key or REW key isdepressed to execute FF search or REW search, the process advances fromStep F101 to Step F102. First, the reproduction operation is executed onthe disc 30 to search I-picture data.

In this situation, the system controller 53 has an internal timeractuated to thereby count a period of time T₁ during the reproductionoperation. For example, the period of time T₁ is set to 256 msec.

During the reproduction operation, after I-picture data can bereproduced within 256 msec and then decoded by the MPEG video decoder42, the process advances from Step F103 to Step F106, where the decodedimage data is outputted and then displayed by the monitor unit connectedto the apparatus. This display operation is continued until thesucceeding process in Step F106 is executed.

After a certain I-picture image starts to be displayed in Step F106, thesystem controller 53 makes the internal timer count a period of time T₂.For example, the period of time T₂ is set to one second.

Only an output of display data is executed for this one second, and notrack jump is executed (Step F107). Subsequently, after one second iselapsed from the display start, the process advances from Step F107 toStep F108, thereby making the optical head 34 execute the track jump.

Thereafter, the process returns to Step F101, and if the FF key or REWkey of the operating section 54 has been depressed, the reproductionoperation is then executed in Step F102, to thereby search out thesucceeding I-picture data.

Then, when I-picture data could be decoded within the period of time T₁,that is, 256 msec, from that reproduction operation, the decoded imagedata is outputted and displayed on the monitor unit in Step F106. Inother words, the display image on the monitor unit is renewed.

Here, it is assumed that the I-picture data cannot be reproduced in goodtime during the loop processing of Steps F102, F103, F104, F101 and F102in the stated order, that is, during the execution of the reproductionoperation, thereby exceeding 256 msec. In this case, the processadvances to Step F105, where it is confirmed whether the image data hasbeen read out during the reproduction operation, or not. In other words,it is judged whether it was a state where a P-picture or B-picture hasbeen read out but no I-picture has been found, or a state where none ofI-, P- and B-picture data has been read out.

If image data existed, that is, the P-picture or B-picture has beenread, it is a state where a video data track is being reproduced, andthe I-picture has been recorded once per two seconds at a minimum. TheI-pictures have been recorded more than once per two seconds on most ofthe discs.

Then, the process returns again to the process of Steps F102, F103 andF104 in the stated order, thereby continuing the operation of readingout the I-picture. As a result, even though it exceeds 256 msec once,the I-picture can be found normally relatively rapidly, for example, in300 to 500 msec in total.

On the other hand, when it is judged in Step F105 that none of the I-,P- and B-picture data has been read out, a case is considered in which,for example, reproduction scanning is executed between the adjacenttunes, and so on. This is considered to be a state where the I-picturecould not be found in good time even though the reproduction iscontinued as it is.

In this situation, the process advances to Step F108 where the trackjump is executed, and then returns to Steps F101 and F102 where theprocess is shifted to the reproduction operation starting from aposition after executing the track jump.

Normally, the I-picture can be found within the period of time T₁ (256msec) through the reproduction operation made in Step F102 in mostcases.

The image output resulting from one I-picture is continued for at leasta period of time T₂ (1 second) or longer through the above processing.

In the case where no I-picture can be decoded within the period of timeT₁, if the possibility of finding out the I-picture rapidly is low, theprocess advances to Steps F104, F105 and F108 in the stated order sothat the track jump is executed to restart the reproduction operation atanother position.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the respective images are renewed in aperiod of time (T₁ +T₂ ±α), and the period of T₁ and α is slight to thedegree which could not be recognized by a user. For that reason, theuser recognizes that an image is renewed substantially every period oftime T₁, that is, in about one second. When the process advances toSteps F104, F105 and F108 in the stated order, thereby executing thetrack jump, the duration of display of an image which is being displayedat that time lengthens somewhat.

For practical purposes, when the reproduction is started at a positionsuch as a position between the adjacent tunes where no I-picture can beread out, the track jump is executed after 256 msec is elapsed so thatthe reproduction is executed at another position. As a result, becausethe I-picture data can be normally found out rapidly, the duration ofdisplay is not as long as the extent that the user feels unpleasant. Itis about 1.5 seconds at the longest.

In other words, in the first embodiment, the display image at the timeof FF/REW is renewed every about 1 second (the period of time T₂) sothat the user feels as if the images are smoothly moved forward orbackward at a high speed.

The first embodiment was described above. It does without saying thatthe periods T₁ and T₂ may be set in a variety of different manners.

Those periods may be set in accordance with a period of time requiredfor the track jump operation or a search speed.

Also, when the search speed can be changed, the period T₂ may bevariably set in accordance with the search speed set by the user.

Subsequently, a description will be given of a method of reproducing arecording medium in accordance with a second embodiment of the presentinvention, with reference to FIGS. 10(a), 10(b) and other figures. Thestructure of the reproducing apparatus is identical to that of thereproducing apparatus according to the first embodiment as shown in FIG.6, and therefore for description of the second embodiment, the samereference numerals as those of the reproducing apparatus of the firstembodiment shown in FIG. 6 are used.

In the reproducing apparatus of the second embodiment, in order todecode video data read out from a disc 30, an MPEG video decoder 42 usesa video RAM 43 as shown in FIG. 10(a) at the time of a normalreproduction operation.

First, as a region into which image data supplied from a CD-ROM decoder39, that is, a piece of picture data is taken, a compressed data storingregion 43a is set. For the purpose of storing an I-picture or P-picturewhich has been decoded on a compression processing, there are preparedregions for two screens as I- or P-picture storing regions 43b and 43c.This is because two I- or P-picture data are necessary when a B-pictureis decoded. Moreover, there is prepared a B-picture storing region 43bfor storing the B-picture. Using the video RAM 43 thus organized, theMPEG video decoder 42 decodes the I-, P- and B-pictures and rearrangesthe decoded pictures in an appropriate sequence of display outputs tooutput the rearranged pictures.

At the time of a high-speed reproduction such as FF or REW, the systemcontroller 53 makes the optical head 34 execute the same operation asthat in the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8. At the time of thehigh-speed reproduction, an I-picture is extracted discretely from thedisc 30 and then displayed. For that reason, the normal reproductionoperation is executed as shown in FIG. 8 to search out the I-picturefrom the disc 30. Then, the I-picture, which has been searched out, isdecoded by the MPEG video decoder 42, and simultaneously the opticalhead 34 is allowed to execute the track jump by several tracks. Uponcompletion of the track jump, the normal reproduction operation is againexecuted to search out another I-picture. The above operation isrepeated to thereby execute the high-speed reproduction of FF or REW.The track jump is directed toward the outer peripheral direction of thedisc 30 at the time of FF, but toward the inner peripheral direction ofthe disc 30 at the time of REW.

In the second embodiment, in the case of FF/REW, the decoded I-pictureis not outputted as one screen as it is, but the respectively readI-pictures are sequentially displayed at a predetermined region on ascreen as a 1/9 reduced screen. In other words, the MPEG video decoder42 outputs image data so that display regions G₁ to G₉ are set on thedisplay screen of a monitor unit connected to the reproducing apparatusas shown in FIG. 11, and the decoded I-pictures are sequentiallydisplayed thereon. For example, at the time of FF, an I-pictureinitially read out is displayed on the G₁ region, and when anotherI-picture is read out succeedingly, this I-picture is displayed on theG₂ region while the display on the G₁ region is left as it is. Stillanother I-picture is displayed on the region G₃. Such display operationis performed. In other words, reduced I-pictures are displayedsequentially on the regions G₁ to G₉ in the stated order of G₁, G₂, G₃,G₄, G₅, G₆, G₇, G₈, G₉, G₁, . . . .

Also, for example, at the time of REW, the reduced I-pictures aredisplayed sequentially on the regions G₁ to G₉ in the reverse order,that is, in the stated order of G₉, G₈, G₇, G₆, G₅, G₄, G₃, G₂, G₁, G₉,. . . .

For that reason, at the time of the high-speed reproduction such as FFor REW, setting of the regions in the video RAM 43 is changed as shownin FIG. 10(b). The compressed data storing region 43a is left as it isso that data inputted before being decoded is stored in the compresseddata storing region 43a. Because what is decoded is only the I-picture,an I-picture storing region 43e for one screen is provided. As shown inFIG. 11, for the purpose of executing a division display for reducedscreens, a division display memory region 43f is provided. It ispossible to set the division display memory region 43f more than twiceas large as the storing region for the normal I-, P- and B-pictures.This is because the B-picture is unnecessary with the result that twopieces of I- or P-picture storing regions are not required as referencedata used for decoding the B-picture, and because decoding of only theI-picture can be made in a relatively small buffer region.

The decoded I-picture is reduced to a size of 1/9 on the divisiondisplay memory region 43f, and that data is affixed to a predeterminedregion, thereby enabling the reduced image to be displayed thereonsequentially.

The number of pixels of image data for one screen in the video-CDconforming to the NTSC system is horizontally 352 dots×vertically 240lines as shown in FIG. 2.

On the contrary, in the MPEG video decoder 42, the dot number and linenumber of the decoded I-picture are reduced to 1/3, respectively,thereby enabling 1/9 reduced image data to be produced. This is affixedto a position corresponding to any region of G₁ to G₉ of FIG. 11 in thedivision display memory region 43f so that the MPEG video decoder 42outputs image data produced in the division display memory region 43f.

The operation at the time of FF and REW will be described below indetail.

FIGS. 12(a) to 12(g) show display states at the time of FF, and FIG. 13shows the processing of the system controller 53 and the MPEG videodecoder 42 at the time of FF. In this example, it is assumed that the FFoperation is executed while the user continuously depresses an FF key ofthe operating unit 54.

When the user depresses the FF key in the operating unit 54, the processadvances from Step F201 to Step F202. Setting of regions in the videoRAM 43 is changed from a state of FIG. 10(a) to a state of FIG. 10(b).

Subsequently, a variable n is set to 1 (Step F203).

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the operation of reproducing the disc 30 isfirst executed to read the I-picture (Step F204). The I-picture data issupplied to the MPEG video decoder 42 where the I-picture data suppliedis decoded appropriately (Step F205). The decoded I-picture data isreduced to a data size of 1/9 and allocated to a position correspondingto a display region G(n) within the division display memory region 43f.In this case, because of n=1, an I-picture initially read is affixed toa position corresponding to G1 within the division display memory region43f so that the I-picture is displayed at the region G₁ on the monitorunit connected to the reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 12(a).

Subsequently, the variable n is subjected to increment (Step F207) andmakes the optical head 34 jump over tracks toward an FF direction, thatis, toward the outer periphery of the disc (Step F210) as it is if thevariable n is not 10. Then, if the user continues the FF operationwithout any change, the process returns to the processing of Step F204after the track jump is executed, so that the reproduction operation isexecuted to search the I-picture.

Thereafter, the I-picture data read from the disc 30 and decoded isreduced through the processing of Steps F204 to F206 because of thevariable n=2, and affixed to a position corresponding to the region G₂within the division display memory region 43f. Hence, on the monitorunit, the present I-picture is displayed at the region G₂ while theprevious I-picture is displayed at the region G₁, as shown in FIG.12(b).

In this manner, while the variable n is subjected to increment, theprocessing of Steps F104 to F110 is repeated, whereby the display stateis changed in the stated order of FIGS. 12(b), 12(c), 12(d), . . . , and12(e). In other words, the reduced images resulting from the I-picturessequentially read out from the disc 30 are displayed at the respectiveregions G₁ to G₉ in order.

At the time of the state shown in FIG. 12(e), the variable n issubjected to increment so that the variable n becomes 10 in Step F207.Accordingly, the process advances from Step F208 to Step F209 so thatthe variable n is set to 1.

The I-picture succeedingly read through the track jump operation (StepF210) and the reproduction operation (Step F204) is decoded and reducedbefore being affixed to a position corresponding to the display regionG1 within the division display memory region 43f. In other words, thedisplay data in the region G₁ is rewritten, and the display is changedas shown in FIG. 12(f).

Upon further continuing the processing, the display data at the regionG₂ in the division display memory region 43f is rewritten due to thesucceeding I-picture, and the display is changed as shown in FIG. 12(g).In this manner, the respective regions are rewritten in order likewise.

When the user stops the depression of the FF key in the operating unit54, the FF operation is completed. In other words, the process advancesto Step F212 so that setting of a region in the video RAM 43 returns tothe state shown in FIG. 10(a) where the normal reproduction operation isexecuted.

Subsequently, a description will be given of the display state at thetime of REW as well as the processing of the system controller 53 andMPEG video decoder 42 with reference to FIGS. 14(a) to 14(g) and 15.Likewise, the REW operation is executed while the user continuouslydepresses the REW key.

When the user depresses the REW key in the operating unit 54, theprocess advances from Step F301 to Step F302, where setting of theregion in the video RAM 43 is changed from the state of FIG. 10(a) tothe state of FIG. 10(b).

Subsequently, the variable n is set to 9 (Step F303).

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the operation of reproducing the disc 30 isfirst executed to read the I-picture (Step F304). The I-picture data issupplied to the MPEG video decoder 42 where the I-picture data suppliedis decoded appropriately (Step F305). The decoded I-picture data isreduced to a data size of 1/9 and allocated to a position correspondingto a display region G(n) within the division display memory region 43f.In this case, because of n=9, an I-picture initially read is affixed toa position corresponding to G₉ within the division display memory region43f so that the I-picture is displayed at the region G₉ on the monitorunit connected to the reproducing apparatus as shown in FIG. 14(a).

Subsequently, the variable n is subjected to decrement (Step F307) andmakes the optical head 34 jump over tracks toward a REW direction, thatis, toward the inner periphery of the disc (Step F310) as it is if thevariable n is not 0. Then, if the user continues the REW operationwithout any change, the process returns to the processing of Step F304after the track jump is executed, so that the reproduction operation isexecuted to search the I-picture.

Thereafter, the I-picture data read from the disc 30 and decoded isreduced through the processing of Steps F304 to F306 because of thevariable n=8, and affixed to a position corresponding to the region G₈within the division display memory region 43f. Hence, on the monitorunit, the present I-picture is displayed at the region G₈ while theprevious I-picture is displayed at the region G₉, as shown in FIG.14(b).

In this manner, while the variable n is subjected to decrement, theprocessing of Steps F304 to F310 is repeated, whereby the display stateis changed in the stated order of FIGS. 14(b), 14(c), 14(d), . . . , and14(e). In other words, the reduced images resulting from the I-picturessequentially read out from the disc 30 are displayed at the respectiveregions G₉ to G₁ in order.

At the time of the state shown in FIG. 14(e), the variable n issubjected to decrement so that the variable n becomes 0 in Step F307.Accordingly, the process advances from Step F308 to Step F309 so thatthe variable n is set to 9.

The I-picture succeedingly read through the track jump operation (StepF310) and the reproduction operation (Step F304) is decoded and reducedbefore being affixed to a position corresponding to the display regionG₉ within the division display memory region 43f. In other words, thedisplay data in the region G₉ is rewritten so that the display ischanged as shown in FIG. 14(f).

Upon further continuing the processing, the display data at the regionG₈ in the division display memory region 43f is rewritten due to thesucceeding I-picture so that the display is changed as shown in FIG.14(g). In this manner, the respective regions are rewritten in orderlikewise.

When the user stops the depression of the REW key in the operating unit54, the REW operation is completed. In other words, the process advancesto Step F312 so that setting of a region in the video RAM 43 returns tothe state shown in FIG. 10(a) where the normal reproduction operation isexecuted.

In the second embodiment, when the FF search or REW search has beenexecuted, the duration of display of one search image, that is, oneI-picture comes to a duration until search images for 9 sheets aredisplayed. In other words, each image continues to be displayed for avery long period of time, for example, for 10 seconds or more, as aresult of which the visibility of one screen to the user is veryimproved. Hence, there is no problem that the user overlooks a portionto be searched.

Also, as described above, in view of the improvement in the visibilityof one sheet of image, a timing control such as a waiting for decodingof the read I-picture is not always required, thereby being capable offacilitating the processing.

Moreover, because the user can watch the scene of the development of thesearch at a time, he can readily grasp the contents of video and easilysearch a portion to be searched.

Further, because the sequence of the display progress for the divisionimage at the time of FF is reverse to that at the time of REW (thesequence of outputs at the display regions G₁ to G₉), it can be judgedwhether it is the FF search or REW search by simply watching the screen.

Still further, such a display is visually interesting, and the pleasureof the user in using the reproducing apparatus is increased.

In the above embodiment, the screen is divided into 9 sub-screens,however, it goes without saying that the division of the screen may bemade in other ways.

FIG. 16 shows an example in which one screen is divided into 4 regionsG₁ to G₄.

In this example, 1/4-reduced images may be displayed, for example, inthe stated order of G₁, G₂, G₃, G₄, G₁, . . . at the time of FF, but inthe stated order of G₄, G₃, G₂, G₁, G₄, . . . at the time of REW.

Alternatively, 1/4-reduced images may be displayed clockwise in thestated order of G₁, G₂, G₄, G₃, G₁, . . . at the time of FF, butcounterclockwise in the stated order of G₄, G₂, G₁, G₃, G₄, . . . at thetime of REW.

FIG. 17 shows an example in which one screen is divided into 16 regionsG₁ to G₁₆.

In this example, 1/16-reduced images may be displayed, for example, inthe stated order of G₁, G₂, G₃, G₄, G₅, G₆, . . . G₁₅, G₁₆, G₁, . . . atthe time of FF, but in the stated order of G₁₆, G₁₅, G₁₄, G₁₃, G₁₂, G₁₁,. . . G₃, G₂, G₁, G₁₆, . . . at the time of REW.

Alternatively, 1/16-reduced images may be displayed clockwise in thespiral form such as the order of G₁, G₂, G₃, G₄, G₈, G₁₂, G₁₆, G₁₅, G₁₄,G₁₃, G₉, G₅, G₆, G₇, G₁₁, G₁₀, G₁, . . . at the time of FF, butcounterclockwise in that reverse order at the time of REW.

FIG. 18 shows a case where 8 regions G₁ to G₈ each having the regionsize of 1/9-reduced image are used. For example, it is considered thatthe 1/9-reduced images are displayed in order clockwise at the time ofFF, but in order counterclockwise at the time of REW.

In the second embodiment, while the FF/REW search is being executed asdescribed above, the normal reproduction and track jump are repeated.Therefore, in the duration of reproduction for searching the I-picture,audio data can be taken in.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), since the video sectors and the audio sectors arearranged time-divisionally, the audio sector can be also reproduceduntil the I-picture is reproduced. Normally, at least one audio sectorcan be read out per the reproduction operation of 80 msec.

Therefore, at the time of the FF/REW search, the audio data read out isdecoded by the MPEG audio decoder 40 and can be outputted as sound.

The outputted sound becomes sound having the pitches of the normalreproduction although it is discontinuous.

The sound thus outputted can serve as a guide of the scene search, andin the high-speed search operation of a relatively row speed where thenumber of jumped tracks in the track jump operation are reduced, it ispossible to watch a disc, for example, on which a movie has beenrecorded in a short period of time.

Subsequently, a description will be given of a method of reproducing arecording medium in accordance with the third embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before turning tothe description of the third embodiment, a format of the video-CD forKaraoke will be described.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the recording format on thevideo-CD for Karaoke. In other words, the video-CD has a lead-in trackat the top thereof as shown in FIG. 19, as in the normal CD-ROM, andtracks 1 to N of N data (N≦99) and a lead-out track are subsequent tothe lead-in track. Compressed audio data and compressed moving picturedata are recorded on the second and subsequent tracks 2 to N of thetracks 1 to N. Each of the tracks 2 to N corresponds to one tune (1sequence), and (N-1) tunes can be recorded on the video-CD.

A variety of information and data on the contents of the mvideo-CD arerecorded on the first track 1, and information that the video-CD is inthe Karaoke format is also described on the track 1.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 19, a Karaoke basic information area, avideo-CD information area and so on are provided on the track 1. In theKaraoke basic information area, there are contained basic information onKaraoke on the disc for each language of countries in which the disc ofquestion is used, such as "KARINFOR. JP" (for Japan), "KARINFOR. US"(For U.S.) and the like. "KARINFO. BIH" where the number of basicinformation for each country and the number of tunes on the disc aredescribed is also contained in the Karadke basic information area.

Karaoke data tables of n=(N-1) tunes are recorded as the basicinformation on Karaoke provided for each country. The data tables arecalled "sequence item tables" and each data table is organizedindependently. In other words, n=(N-1) sequence item tables SIT1 to SITnare provided in correspondence with the respective Karaoke tunes. Apartfrom the tables for each tune, there is provided a data table SITPhaving information on the video-CD, which is called "disc item table".Disc titles, the total number of tunes, disc catalog numbers and so onare recorded in the disc item table SITO.

The sequence item tables SITi (i=1 to (N-1)) have 64 items which arenecessary or arbitrary. The length of the contents in each item isvariable. For that reason, information GL indicative of the length ofthe table is provided at the head of the sequence item table SITi. Datain each item is called an item packet, and each item packet isconstituted by each item number (hereinafter referred to as "itemnumber") INo., information on the length of the item, and the contentsID (text data) of the item.

FIG. 20 shows the structure of the table SITi. For example, item No. 9defines the item of a tune, and its contents are data indicative of thename of the tune as text data. Alternatively, item No. 18 defines theitem of a text, and the text is contained in the format of text data.Item Nos. 22 to 31 are open to makers and can be freely defined by themakers for use.

As described above, the format of the above-described old video-CDprovides no position of the I-picture in compressed moving picture dataas information. On the contrary, in the format of the revised video-CD,there is provided in the video-CD information area of the first track 1an entry table in which the recording position of a predeterminedI-picture as an entry point is represented by time information on thedisc and is then tabled, so that the high-speed reproduction operationor the reproduction from the middle of a tune can be executed. The entrytable is provided every track, and the entry points are sequentiallyrecorded on the disc at the rate of 98 points per one track (1 sequence)at the maximum. The time from the head of each track is used for timeinformation of the entry point.

FIG. 21 shows the data structure of the video sector and the audiosector. As shown in FIG. 21, one sector is constituted in such a mannerthat a header and a sub-header are added, respectively, in front of datagroup of 2324 bytes, which is called "pack". Information of an absolutetime from the innermost periphery to the subject sector is representedby minutes, seconds and frames and recorded in the header. Sub-codeinformation is contained in the sub-header so that it can be recognizedwhether the subject sector is a video sector or an audio sector inaccordance with that sub-mode information.

The video sector and the audio sector are slightly different in thecontents of the pack. In other words, a pack header common to the videosector and the audio sector is provided at the head of the pack. A "packstart" in the pack header is data indicating that the pack starts fromthat position. An "SCR (System Code Reference)" is data indicative of atime when pack data is read out. An "MUX rate" represents the transferrate of compressed video data to compressed audio data.

The contents of the pack header within the packet portion except for thepack header in the pack data are different between the video sector andthe audio sector. A "packet start" within the packet header is dataindicating that the packet starts from that position, and an "ID"indicates whether the packet is of a video packet or audio packet. A"packet length" indicates the length of the packet data, and a "buffersize" is information instructing a buffer size necessary for decoding.

Also, a "PTS (Present Time Stamps)" indicates a time when thereproducing apparatus outputs a moving picture or sound. Referring tothe PTS, the reproducing apparatus recognizes which image is to beoutputted at an output timing of sound.

The packet header on and before the "PTS" is common between the videosector and the audio sector, and in the audio sector, compressed audiodata is recorded after the "PTS". On the other hand, in the videosector, a "DTS (Decode Time Stamp)" in which a time when data istransported to the decoder is described is provided after the "PTS", andcompressed video data is subsequently recorded.

A description will be given of a method of reproducing a recording.medium in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

(In the Case of the Old Video-CD Format)

As described above, no information on the entry point is recorded in thevideo-CD. However, in this example, information on the access point of apartial sequence is recorded on the items of the above-mentioned itemNos. 22 to 31, which can be freely defined and used by the maker, withinthe sequence item table of the Karaoke basic information area on thefirst track 1 in the video-CD. The information on the access point ofthe partial sequence is recorded as time information from the positionof the head of each track. The time of the head position of each trackis described on the track 1, or can be obtained from data described inthe track 1.

Also, in this example, the access point of the partial sequence isrecorded at any one of item Nos. 22 to 31 or a plurality of itemstogether with attribute information on how control is made at its startor end point, in addition to time information.

FIG. 22 shows an example of one item packet used for designating theaccess point of the partial sequence within the sequence item table. Theitem number, as described above, is any one of item Nos. 22 to 31 whichcan be freely defined and used by the maker. In the followingdescription, it is assumed, for example, that the item packet of itemNo. 22 is for the access point of the partial sequence.

In the data DI of the item contents shown in FIG. 22, information isdescribed as text data using character codes defined by KARINFO. BIH. Inthis example, the ADCII code is used as the character code for datavalues on the assumption that it is of the Shift JIS.

In the data DI of the item contents shown in FIG. 22, "E" is event data(2 bytes) representative of control information at the time of thepartial reproduction, an "EH" is its high-order bits (1 byte), and "EL"is its low-order bits (1 byte). Also, "M", "S" and "F" represent timeinformation on "minute", "second" and "frame", respectively. Theyindicate the position of the access point in the partial sequence bytime. "MH", "SH" and "FH" are their high-order bits (1 byte), and "ML","SL" and "FL" are their low-order bits (1 byte). In this example, timeinformation is time information starting from the head position on thetrack of each tune (sequence).

In this example, the high-order bits EH, as shown in a table of FIG. 23,are indicative of the sorts of partial sequence designated such that anaccess point of question is an impressive point representing theso-called impressive portion, an n-chorus point representing the n-thchorus portion of a tune, or the like. The low-order bits EL of theevent data are data for indicating in which mode starting or endingoperation is executed at a point indicated by the item packet of itemNo. 22.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 23, in the access point designated bythe item packet of item No. 22, two modes can be designated inaccordance with the code of the low-order bits EL of the event data E,one of which is to simply execute an on-operation (start) and anoff-operation (end) and the other of which is to control the fade-in orfade-out operation of only an audio signal or video signal, or thefade-in or fade-out operation of both the audio and video signals. InFIG. 23, symbol (H) denotes hexadecimal display.

In the case where a plurality of access points exist in each tune, setsof the position data M, S, F and their attribute data E are sequentiallydescribed within the data DI of the item packet of item No. 22. In otherwords, in this example, within the data DI of the item packet of itemNo. 22, 8 bytes (8 bytes in total because of each data E, M, S and Fbeing of 2 bytes) per one access point are recorded in order on aplurality of access points within a tune.

In the reproducing apparatus, the data DI of item No. 22 is segmentedevery 8 bytes, and an impressive point, n-chorus point, interlude pointor the like can be recognized from the high-order bits EH of the eventdata E, which is 1 byte at the head of data thus segmented every 8bytes. How control is executed at a point of question can be recognizedfrom the low-order bits EL of the event data E, which is the succeeding1 byte. Then, a position of the point of question can be known from thethird to eighth bytes MH to FL of data each being constituted by 8bytes.

The reproducing apparatus is provided with modes of "only impressiveportion replay", "only n-th chorus replay", "interlude omission" and soon, as modes of reproducing only the impressive portion, and equippedwith mode designating keys corresponding to those modes on a key inputsection. With only the user's operation of depressing the keysdesignating the above modes, the reproducing apparatus automaticallysearches the position of each point to execute the audio reproduction aswell as the video reproduction.

By using the video-CD on which the position data for the access point ofthe partial sequence as well as the attribute data related to that pointhas been recorded on any portion of item Nos 22 to 31 which are openedto the user in the sequence item table in the above manner, thereproducing apparatus is capable of readily reproducing the partialsequence of the video-CD of question, using the information of thesequence item table.

However, as described above, the extension decoding of the movingpicture data must be executed from the position of 1 picture. However,the I-picture is simply standardized so that one I-picture isnecessarily recorded within two seconds, and its recording position isnot particularly standardized. In this situation, it is proposed thatthe I-picture be recorded at the head of the tune or chorus, but thestarting or ending position of the impressive portion, prelude,interlude or the like may not necessarily be at the position of theI-picture. Hence, in the case of executing the partial reproduction,even though the moving picture data is subjected to the extensiondecoding processing from the access point, a moving picture cannot beobtained with accuracy without any processing.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a relationship between the access point ofthe partial sequence and audio data as well as video data in a certaintune (1 sequence). In the video data of FIG. 24, the portions ofI-pictures are indicated by the parts of oblique lines. The I-pictures,as described above, are recorded in such a manner that one I-picturenecessarily exists within an interval of two seconds. In FIG. 24, forthe simplification of description, only an I-picture at a positionrelated to the description of the present invention is shown.

In FIG. 24, symbol P0 denotes a head point of a tune, in correspondencewith which an I-picture is recorded as video data. Similarly, P5 and P10are head points of the second chorus (the second of the tune) and thethird chorus (the third thereof), respectively. Similarly to P0,I-pictures are recorded at P5 and P10 as video data, respectively. Theyare points from which the reproduction is started at modes of thepartial sequence such as the reproduction of only the first, second orthird chorus.

P1 denotes a point at which the prelude at the head of the first chorusends, and the prelude ending point P1 is used as a reproduction startpoint when the partial reproduction is carried out with the omission ofthe prelude. However, in FIG. 24, no I-picture exists as video datacorresponding to the audio data at the point P1.

P2, P7 and P12 represent start points of the impressive portions of thefirst, second and third choruses, respectively. P3, P8 and P13 representend points of the impressive portions of the respective choruses.Although the start points of the impressive portions represent thereproduction start points, in the example shown in FIG. 24, no I-pictureexists as video data corresponding to audio data at those start points.

P4 and P9 represent start points of an interlude from the first chorusto the second chorus and an interlude from the second to the thirdchorus, respectively. P6 and P11 represent end points of thoseinterludes, respectively. These points are utilized when the interludeis omitted. The end point of the interlude is an access point from whichthe reproduction is started at the mode of the interlude omission. It ispreferable that an I-picture is recorded as video data corresponding tothe audio data at the interlude end point. However, in FIG. 24, such anI-picture is not recorded.

In view of the above, in this embodiment, with the organization to bedescribed below, even in the partial reproduction as well as the restartof the reproduction from the omission, the moving picture can be alwaysreproduced with accuracy.

(First Reproducing Method for Video-CD Due to Old Format)

An I-picture necessarily exists between a point 2 seconds before anaccess point and the access point in view of time in conformity with thestandard of the video-CD. In the first reproducing method, in the caseof the access point being the reproduction start, the position of theI-picture within 2 seconds before the access point is searched prior tothe reproduction operation, so that the reproduction decoding of movingpicture data is started from that I-picture. An output of the reproducedmoving picture signal is not applied to the display monitor unit. Then,time information in the signal which is being reproduced is monitored,and upon the arrival at the access point, the extension decoding ofaudio information as well as the output of the reproduced signal isstarted while the output of the reproduced moving picture signal isapplied to the display monitor unit.

In the first reproducing method, the audio information and the movingpicture information associated therewith are simultaneously reproducedfrom the access point. In outputting reproduced signals, control inaccordance with the attribute of the above-mentioned access point, forexample, the fade-in control and so on are carried out together.

(Second Reproducing Method for Video-CD Due to Old Format)

In the above-mentioned first reproducing method, the I-picture beforethe access point is searched so that the moving picture data isreproduced and decoded from that I-picture. In this second reproducingmethod, the reproduction of the moving picture data is started from theI-picture after the access point.

In the second reproducing method, the reproduced audio informationstarts to be outputted from the access point. However, the movingpicture information, because of the delay of its reproduction, starts tobe displayed on the display unit late by the amount of that delay.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing an example of the above-mentionedreproducing apparatus for the video-CD. In other words, in thereproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 25, a light pickup 62 allows asignal recorded on a video-CD 61 to be reproduced from the video-CD 61.The signal thus reproduced is supplied to an EFT decoder circuit 72through a reproduction amplifier 71, where it is subjected to processingsuch as an EFM demodulation and an error correction. The signal thusprocessed is supplied to a CD-ROM decoder circuit 73 where it issubjected to a decoding processing per a sector unit, thereby beingoutputted.

The data of a first track 1 in the output signal of the CD-ROM decodercircuit 73 is taken in a controller 75, which is composed of amicrocomputer, through a system bus (consisting of an address bus and adata bus) so that the data is used for playback control which will bemade later.

The compressed video data in the output signal of the CD-ROM decodercircuit 73 is taken in an MPEG video decoder circuit 91 so that initialvideo signals such as a luminance signal and two color-differencesignals are demodulated. The digital video signal thus decoded isdigital-to-analog converted into an analog video signal in a D/Aconverter circuit 92, and the analog video signal thus converted issupplied to a level control circuit 93 for fade-in or fade-out. Thevideo signal outputted from the level control circuit 93 is supplied toan NTSC encoder circuit 94 so as to be encoded into a color compositevideo signal of the NTSC system which is outputted to a terminal 35.

The data of the audio signal in the output signal from the CD-ROMdecoder circuit 73 is taken into an MPEG audio decoder circuit 81 sothat initial signals such as audio signals of right and left channels ofKaraoke, that is, an accompaniment are decoded. The decoded audio signalis supplied to a key control circuit 82.

The reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 25 further includes a key inputsection 76 an output of which is supplied to the controller 75. Theoutput of the operating section for adjusting the speed of a tune in thekey input section 76 is supplied to the controller 75. The controller 75makes the rotational speed of the video-CD 61 and the decoder circuits81 and 91 controlled in such a manner that the reproducing speed of thevideo signal and audio signal is changed in accordance with the outputof the input section 75. Also, the key control circuit 82 allows achange of the signal resulting from the change of the reproducing speedto be corrected.

The audio signal from the key control circuit 82 is supplied to a mixercircuit 83. The audio signal representative of the vocals of a singer issupplied from a microphone 84 through an amplifier 85 to an A/Dconverter circuit 86 where it is subjected to an A/D conversion. Theaudio signal thus converted is supplied to the mixer circuit 83.

The mixer circuit 83 allows the audio signal representative of Karaoke,that is, the accompaniment of a tune to be mixed with the audio signalrepresentative of the vocals, thereby outputting an audio signal whereKaraoke is added to the vocals therefrom. The audio signal thus mixed issupplied to a D/A converter circuit 87 so that it is subjected to a D/Aconversion. After the audio signal thus converted is supplied to a levelcontrol circuit 93 for fade-in or fade-out, the audio signal thuslevel-controlled is outputted from an output terminal 89.

In this case, data related to the production of the partial sequencedescribed at any one of item Nos. 22 to 31, in this example, at itemnumber 22 shown in FIG. 20 is taken out from data of the table SITi indata on the first track 1 taken in the system controller 75, and usedfor the production of the partial sequence at the mode designated fromthe key input section 76.

Now, a description will be given of a case where the partialreproduction of the impressive portion is executed by use of theabove-mentioned reproducing apparatus. In this case, it is assumed thatinformation related to a start point Ps and an end point Pe of theimpressive portion in a tune of question is recorded on the track 1 ofthe video-CD as data of item No. 22 of the sequence item table for thattune.

Then, it is assumed that the item contents ID related to the point Psare as follows:

[EH, EL, MH, ML, SH, SL, FH, FL]=[60, 39, 30, 31, 32, 32, 31, 30]

Also, it is assumed that the item contents ID related to the point Pe isas follows:

[EH, EL, MH, ML, SH, SL, FH, FL]=[60, 31, 30, 31, 35, 32, 31, 35]

The data of those points Ps and Pe are sequentially recorded in the dataDI.

The information on the partial reproduction in the above example is thatthe impressive point is a designated tune (sequence), that is, startsfrom a position after 10 frames of 1 minute and 2 seconds are elapsedfrom the head of a track and ends at 15 frames of 1 minute and 5seconds. It means that the start is performed by fading in the audiosignal and the video signal, and the end is performed by fading out theaudio signal and the video signal.

The user instructs the designation of a tune as well the mode ofreproducing only the impressive portion through the key input section 76in the reproducing apparatus shown in FIG. 25. In response thereto, thesystem controller 25 finds out the data segmented every 8 bytes relatedto the impressive point, referring to the high-order bits EH of therespective event data in data segmented every 8 bytes related to aplurality of partial sequences of the data DI of item No. 22 in thesequence item table of the tune designated. The system controller 25then writes data each having 8 bytes related to those points Ps and Peinto a buffer memory.

Subsequently, the system controller 25 calculates a position to beaccessed on the video-CD 61 from a relative time with respect to thehead of a track f or the designated tune in accordance with data "M","S" and "F" of the impressive point Ps of the initial 8 bytes. on thebasis of the calculated result, the system controller 15 controls atracking controller 63 so that the position of the pickup 62 is set to areproduction position of question.

The above control is common to the above first and second reproducingmethods, but, the subsequent control is different therebetween becausethey are different in the format of the video-CD.

First, a description will be given of the first reproducing method.

In the first reproducing method, the pickup 62 is jumped at a position 2seconds before the position of an access point of question in view oftime, and video sectors are sequentially picked up from that position ofthe video-CD so that the video sector thus picked up is decoded by theMPEG video decoder circuit 91. The MPEG video decoder circuit 91 detectsan I-picture through the decoding process. Hence, the extension decodingof the moving picture data is carried out so that the output of thereproduced moving picture can be precisely obtained from the position ofthe I-picture. The decoding processing on the moving picture data iscontinuously carried out as it is.

During the above operation, the system controller 75 calculates a timeelapsed for reproduction in accordance with sub-codes in data of theCD-ROM sector structure and the absolute time information in the header.Then, comparing the elapsed time with data "M", "S" and "F" related tothe start point Ps of the impressive portion taken in the buffer memory,it is monitored that a position at which the video-CD is read outthrough the pickup reaches the start point Ps of the impressive portion.

Upon the arrival of the reading position due to the pickup at the startpoint Ps, the decoding processing on the audio data is also started, andthe system controller 75 controls the level control circuit 88 so as tomake the reproduced audio signal outputted from the output terminal 89.Simultaneously, the system controller 75 controls the level controlcircuit 93, enabling the reproduced video signal of the moving pictureto be outputted from the output terminal 95.

Then, the system controller 75 discriminates the operation at the timewhen the impressive portion starts to be reproduced in accordance withthe low-order bits "EL" of the even data E in data related to theimpressive point Ps of 8 bytes found out. In the first reproducingmethod, the level control circuits 88 and 93 are controlled so as tosubject the audio signal as well as the video signal to a fade-inprocessing.

In this manner, in the first reproducing method, the reproduction of theKaraoke accompaniment music and the reproduction of the moving pictureare simultaneously started.

Subsequently, a description will be given of the second reproducingmethod.

In the second reproducing method, the reproduction decoding of the audiodata is started from the access point, and likewise as theabove-described example, the system controller 75 executes the fade-inprocessing to thereby start the reproduction of the Karaokeaccompaniment music.

On the other hand, in the moving picture data, the MPEG video decodercircuit 91 makes the video sector sequentially decoded in the samemanner as the above, and an I-picture is detected through a decodingsequence, thereby precisely reproducing the moving picture. Then, uponthe detection of the I-picture, the system controller 75 is allowed tobe informed of the detection information. In response to thatinformation, the system controller 75 controls the level control circuit93 so that the reproduced video signal is supplied to the NTSC encodercircuit 94 to output the NTSC composite video signal through the outputterminal 94 to the monitor unit.

In the second reproducing method, the moving picture is reproduced onthe monitor unit late after the Karaoke accompaniment music is started.However, not only a precise moving picture is obtained, but also aninterval from the access point to the position of the I-picture is after2 seconds at the longest. Hence, the user does not feel souncomfortable.

The processing on or before the end point of the impressive portion inthe first reproducing method is identical to that in the secondreproducing method.

In other words, upon the starting of the production of the audio andmoving picture from the start point Ps of the impressive portion in theabove-described manner, the system controller 75 calculates a timeelapsed for reproduction in accordance with sub-codes in data of theCD-ROM sector structure as well as the absolute time information in theheader. Then, comparing the elapsed time with data "M", "S" and "F" (the11-th byte to the 16-th byte) related to the end point Ps of theimpressive portion taken in the buffer memory, it is monitored that thereproduction position reaches the end point Pe of the impressiveportion.

Upon the arrival of the reproduction position at the end point Pe, thesystem controller 75 discriminates the operation at the time of thecompletion of reproduction of the impressive portion in accordance withthe low-order bits "EL" of the event data E related to the point Pe. Inthis reproducing method, the system controller 75 controls the levelcontrol circuits 88 and 93 to thereby subject the audio signal as wellas the video signal to a fade-out processing.

With the above processing, the user can readily reproduce only theimpressive potion of a desired tune by only instructing the designationof a tune as well as the mode of reproducing only the impressiveportion.

(In the Case of New Video-CD Format)

Similarly in the new video-CD format, with the reproducing apparatusshown in FIG. 25, the partial sequence can be reproduced in the entirelysame manner as that in the above-mentioned old video-CD format, by useof any one or some of item Nos. 22 to 31 in the sequence item table ofthe Karaoke basic information area on the track 1.

Moreover, in the new video-CD format, as described above, since thetable of the entry point where the information on the position where thereproduction can be started (information on the position where theI-picture is recorded) is represented by time is recorded every sequenceon the video-CD information area (time information of 98 points at themaximum per one track is sequentially recorded), the partialreproduction can be designated using the information on the entry point.

In other words, in this case, as information related to the partialreproduction which is recorded at the portion of item Nos. 23 to 31, thetime information M, S and F is unnecessary, but only the event data E asthe attribute of the respective entry points is recorded with theassociation of the event data E with the entry point. A variety ofassociating manners may be proposed. For example, the entry points andthe event data E of the attribute of each point in the same order may bedescribed as data DI of any one of item Nos. 22 to 31.

Alternatively, information on the designation of the entry point (forexample, the designation of the point No.) in the entry table of asequence of question may be paired with the event data E as the accesspoint data of each partial sequence so that the start or end point ofthe entry points are associated with that of the partial sequence.

In the example of using information on the entry points, there are twomethods one of which is a method of designating the entry point beforethe access point, and the other is a method of designating the entrypoint after the access point.

In the method of designating the entry point before the access point,the same processing as that of the first reproducing method in theformat of the above-mentioned old video-CD is executed after thedecoding processing on the moving picture data is started from the entrypoint of question.

In the method of designating the entry point after the access point, thereproduction decoding on the audio data is started from the access pointin the same processing as that of the second reproducing method in theformat of the above-mentioned old video-CD. Like the above example, thesystem controller 75 executes, for example, the fade-in processing sothat the reproduction of the Karaoke accompaniment music is started. Onthe other hand, in the moving picture data, the position of the entrypoint designated is monitored in view of time in the same manner as thatin the above example in the system controller 75. Upon the arrival ofthe reproduction position at the entry point of question, the decodingprocessing on the moving picture data and leading of the reproducedoutput are executed from that point so that it is outputted to themonitor unit. Thus, the reproduction of the moving picture is startedfrom that point late after the reproduction of the audio data.

In the above method, the sort of the access point recorded on thevideo-CD is inputted from the key input section 76 thereby indicatingthe access point of question. There is a case where the access point isdesignated directly from the key input section 76 to start thereproduction from the access point thus designated. In such a case, inthe same manner as the above example, the reproduction of the movingpicture information can lead to the same operation and advantage asthose in the above example by retrieving the position of the I-picturebefore or after that access point and executing the decoding andreproduction operation with a reference being the position of theI-picture.

In the above third embodiment, the information on the position of theaccess point in the partial sequence is time information from the headposition of each track. However, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, information on the absolute time on the disc ortime information on the reproduced output information PTS may be usedtherefor.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principlesof the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled inthe art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It isintended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto, and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording medium, comprising:a program area inwhich a plurality of Karaoke audio programs and a plurality ofrespective Karaoke video programs are recorded; and a management area inwhich management data for use in managing said plurality of Karaokeaudio programs and Karaoke video programs is recorded, said managementarea being located within at least a portion of not more than one trackof said recording medium; wherein each said Karaoke audio programincludes at least one characteristic audio segment which may be used toidentify the content of said Karaoke audio program, and wherein saidmanagement data includes an indication of the recording medium startposition and the recording medium end position for at least one of saidaudio or video programs, and includes, for each said characteristicaudio segment, an indication of the recording medium start position andthe recording medium end position of said segment.
 2. The recordingmedium according to claim 1, wherein said management data includes foreach said characteristic segment an event data and a fade data.
 3. Therecording medium according to claim 1, wherein said program area hasrecorded therein an interlude audio segment, and further comprises anarea located at the beginning of said interlude audio segment forrecording beginning interlude segment information, and an area locatedat the end of said interlude audio segment for recording endinginterlude segment information.
 4. The recording medium according toclaim 3, wherein said beginning interlude segment information and saidending interlude segment information each include an interlude eventdata and an interlude fade data.
 5. The recording medium according toclaim 1, wherein said program area has recorded therein a chorus audiosegment, and said recording medium further comprises an area located atthe beginning of said chorus audio segment for recording beginningchorus audio segment information, and an area located at the end of saidchorus audio segment for recording ending chorus audio segmentinformation.
 6. The recording medium according to claim 5, wherein saidbeginning chorus audio segment information and said ending chorus audiosegment information each include a chorus event data and a chorus fadedata.
 7. A method for reproducing a plurality of Karaoke audio programs,a plurality of respective Karaoke video programs, and management datafrom a recording medium, wherein said management data is located withinat least a portion of not more than one track of said recording medium,wherein each said Karaoke audio program includes at least onecharacteristic audio segment which may be used to identify the contentof said Karaoke audio program, and wherein said management data includesan indication of the recording medium start position and the recordingmedium end position for at least one of said audio or video programs,and includes, for each said characteristic audio segment, an indicationof the recording medium start position and the recording medium endposition of said segment, the method comprising the steps of:detecting auser operation for requesting reproduction of one of said characteristicaudio segments; accessing said requested characteristic audio segment inaccordance with the indication of said recording medium start positionand said recording medium end position for said requested characteristicaudio segment; reproducing said requested characteristic audio segmentas an audio signal; and reproducing the Karaoke video programcorresponding to said requested characteristic audio segment for displayto the user.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein saidcharacteristic audio segment includes a prelude portion.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 7, wherein said characteristic audio segment includesan interlude portion.
 10. The method according to claim 7, wherein saidcharacteristic audio segment includes a postlude portion.
 11. The methodaccording to claim 7, wherein said characteristic audio segment includesa chorus portion.
 12. The method according to claim 7, wherein said stepof reproducing the Karaoke video program corresponding to said requestedcharacteristic audio segment comprises the steps of:accessing anintra-coded picture located adjacent to said recording medium startposition of said requested characteristic audio segment; and decodingvideo data temporally succeeding said intra-coded picture.
 13. Themethod according to claim 7, wherein said step of reproducing saidrequested characteristic audio segment comprises audibly fading areproduced characteristic audio segment.
 14. The method according toclaim 7, wherein said step of reproducing the Karaoke video programcorresponding to said requested characteristic audio segment comprisesvisually fading a reproduced video program.